AWARDS
Sharankumar Limbale to Receive 2025 Chintha Raveendran Award
• Celebrated Marathi author and literary critic Sharankumar Limbale has been chosen for the 2025 Chintha Raveendran Award.
• The award will be conferred on July 26 during a memorial event held in Kozhikode.
• The recognition includes a ₹50,000 cash prize, along with a citation and commemorative memento.
• Limbale, widely respected for his contributions to Dalit literature, has authored more than 40 books.
• The event will feature a keynote lecture by former MP Subhashini Ali, who will speak on “Manuvadi Hindutva: When culture, history, and equal rights are being deconstructed.”
• Acclaimed writer N.S. Madhavan will preside over the award ceremony session.
• The Chintha Raveendran Award honors authors whose writings challenge inequality and promote progressive values in society.
NATIONAL NEWS
Maratha Military Forts Recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The Maratha Military Landscapes have officially joined the UNESCO World Heritage List during its 47th committee session in Paris.
• This recognition marks India’s 44th World Heritage Site, celebrating the Maratha Empire’s architectural prowess and strategic legacy.
• A total of 12 forts across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were included, reflecting military brilliance from the 1600s to 1800s.
• Noteworthy sites include Shivneri, Raigad, Sindhudurg, Pratapgad, and Gingee Fort, spread across coastal, island, and plateau regions.
• The nomination, submitted in January 2024, was approved after an 18-month review involving inspections and advisory evaluations.
• The listing met UNESCO criteria (iv) and (vi) for cultural and historical relevance, and received backing from 18 of 20 member states.
• Some forts are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, while others fall under Maharashtra’s state protection.
• With this addition, India ranks sixth worldwide and second in Asia-Pacific for the number of World Heritage Sites; 62 more sites remain on its Tentative List.
STATE NEWS
Uttarakhand to Plant 5 Lakh Saplings on Harela Festival 2025
• On July 16, Uttarakhand will undertake a massive tree plantation campaign to mark the Harela festival, aiming to plant over 5 lakh saplings.
• Of the total, 3 lakh trees will be planted in Garhwal and 2 lakh in Kumaon, covering varied ecological zones.
• The campaign carries the themes “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” and “Dharti Maa Ka Rin Chukao” to encourage public involvement.
• Launched under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the initiative promotes community-wide participation.
• Students, locals, and government staff are actively mobilized to contribute to the effort.
• Saplings will be planted in a range of spaces—schools, parks, riversides, forests, and residential areas.
• The state aims to surpass the previous record of 2 lakh saplings planted in a day, set in 2016.
• The drive showcases Uttarakhand’s commitment to environmental conservation and grassroots ecological action.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 Focuses on Science and Speed
• Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary opened the Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 at ICAR’s Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
• Organized by the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) under CBIC, the event was themed “Scientific Excellence for Seamless Trade.”
• A special documentary, “Science at the Border,” was screened, depicting the evolution and significance of CRCL and its regional labs.
• The conference hosted over 400 delegates, including officials from CBIC, Revenue Department, trade associations, and research institutions.
• Discussions focused on speeding up testing procedures and modernizing lab infrastructure to improve efficiency in trade.
• Originally established as the Imperial Customs Laboratory in 1912 (Calcutta), CRCL became a central institution in Delhi in 1939, led by Dr. H. B. Dunnicliff.
• Today, CRCL plays a key role in accurate goods classification, trade transparency, and enforcing customs laws.
• The conference reinforced the growing importance of science and innovation in facilitating global trade.
